Finans quoted an anonymous board member at Danske as saying the bank must await the necessary approval from Danish financial markets regulator FSA to be able to appoint a new CEO.

When asked directly if the board has a candidate ready and is awaiting approval from the FSA, the board member said: "That could be the case".

Danske Bank declined to comment to Reuters.

Several sources point to the current head of wealth management and former chief financial officer at the bank, Jacob Aarup-Andersen, as a clear favourite to take over as new CEO.

Finans also mentioned as possible candidates former CEO of Swedens's SEB and current partner in Swiss bank Lombard Odier Annika Falkengren, CEO of mortgage lender Nykredit Michael Rasmussen, CEO of Orsted Henrik Poulsen and head of fixed income and commodities in the EMEA region at Morgan Stanley Jakob Horder.